Old mandate, new law

WHEN Annapurna Devi visited the rainforests of the Amazon she wanted to bring back a memento that embodies the pristine beauty of the region. She chose some necklaces and earrings made of olho-de-cabra seeds, or the red and black tento seeds, which the indigenous communities turn into beautiful jewellery. Devi was the only one among a host of visitors from other countries to buy the jewellery. The Americans, Canadians and British loved the jewellery as much but said they could not carry it home because customs officials would confiscate any item that contained foreign plant material.

A touch of poison

It is an unassuming weed that grows in profusion along the roads and along the southern stretch of the Ganga. Its berries are black and lacklustre. One wouldn’t think phutka, as the plant is referred to in Bhagalpur, Bihar, could amount to anything much. So I was surprised to find sabjiwalis collecting it from my kitchen garden in Bhagalpur. The tender twigs earn them Rs 10-15 a kilogram in the market, they told me.

Letters - February 28, 2013

Hello Lantana

Science and Technology - Briefs

GEOLOGY Fault finding “Stable” zones of the earth’s crust might not be so stable. These zones are more likely to cause massive earthquakes. It was thought that “stable” zones, where fault segments of the crust slip slowly, act as barriers to earthquakes and fast-slipping faults trigger them.

High on weed

LANTANA is one of the 10 worst weeds in the world. It originated in the Americas but can now be found across more than 60 countries. Biological attributes like fire tolerance and ability to survive in any condition make it a nightmare for forest managers. The weed occupies over 13 million hectares in India and continues to spread.

Science and Technology - Briefs

HEALTH SCIENCES The villain gets nastier The toxin bisphenol A (BPA) is found in plastics, dental sealants and grocery receipts. It is a known hormone disrupter. But its impact on the hormones produced by the thyroid gland remain unknown. These hormones are essential for cognitive development of children.

Convention on biological diversity

cbd Page Teaser:  The forthcoming CBD conference in Hyderabad will discuss innovative ways of financing biodiversity from partnerships with business to payments for ecosystem services. Will this save the planet?

The hunt for benefits

Plastic from weed

WATER hyacinth is considered one of the most notorious aquatic weeds. It proliferates rapidly in lakes, dams and irrigation channels and chokes them. But scientists have now shown that the infamous weed is a rich source of carbohydrate and can be used to make biodegradable plastic.

Weed on my plate

Monsoon could be an irritating time for gardeners, with wild vegetables (or weeds) taking over flower beds and sidewalks. But before you pick up a hoe or chemicals to get rid of the pesky lot, here’s food for thought: the wild vegetables could be tastier and more nutritious than the vegetables in the market.